The ReMatriate Collective is an Indigenous women's collective, that uses social media to empower and connect Indigenous peoples, particularly women, through art interventions. The collective is composed of women across Western and Northern Canada.
History
is an Architect and co-founder of the ReMatriate Collective alongside Interdisciplinary artist Jeneen Frei-Njootli. ReMatriate also known as the ReMatriate Campaign or Collective, initially began as a social media campaign that sought to give authentic visual representation of strong indigenous women, through an online social media campaign in March of 2015. After the controversial debut of fashion designer duo DSquared’s disrespectful “DSquaw” collection, which used the derogatory and offensive term "Squaw" to describe their fashion collection, The campaign formed to represent Indigenous women in a positive light and let people see the diversity and complexity of Indigenous womxn, and the strength and beauty of living cultures.
Members
Kelly Edzerza-Bapty Jeneen Frei-Njootli Tsēmā Igharas Tiffany Creyke Denver Lynxleg Angela Marie Schenstead Edzerza-Bapty, Lynxleg, Frei-Njootli prepare the image submissions for ReMatriate and Edzerza-Bapty provides collective administration and manages the . Kelly Edzerza-Bapty is the second indigenous architect from a First Nation within BC, she is one of only five Indigenous women practicing in Canada. Kelly is Principal of Obsidian Architecture Ltd. Edzerza-Bapty obtained her M.Arch from University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in 2013, earned a B.Des from UofA in 2007, and a Diploma of Architectural Technology from BCIT in 2002. Her practice is based around the revitalization and re-building of indigenous communities and nations through advocacy and architecture. Jeneen completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Emily Carr University in 2012, and in 2010 completed an undergraduate exchange study at the Sydney College of Art in Australia. In 2017, she earned an M.F.A from the University of British Columbia. In 2016, she completed the training residency.
Ideology
ReMatriate aims to empower Indigenous women and provide women role-models for young Indigenous girls, using social media. Through art, they respond to the misrepresentations of Indigenous identities, as well as racist and culturally offensive material found in fashion, media and other sources. The group believes it is important to enable Indigenous women to control the visual representation of their identities through being active participants in the online space. A component of their ideology is decolonization, which refers to rematriation of Indigenous land and life following the history of European settler colonialism, and its effects on Indigenous populations across Canada and elsewhere.
ReMatriate's ongoing social media campaign invites Indigenous women to submit an image of themselves that they feel is empowering. Each image is accompanied by a short biography, a history of their community, and a "WE ARE" statement that support Indigenous Knowledge Systems and celebrate the diversity and connection amongst Indigenous peoples. Examples of "WE ARE" statements included in the photographs include, "we are Creator's of our OWN Vision," "we are strong womxn," and "we are the extension of roots bellow our feet forever grounded in love." ReMatriate also provides volunteer-run workshops about electronics, social media, and other modes of connection.
Artworks and Exhibitions
ReMatriate participated in the exhibition Beginning with the Seventies: Collective Acts, September 4, 2018 - December 2, 2018 at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dana Claxton imposed images of the collective's members onto an archival image that references the Service, Office and Retail Workers’ Union of Canada 1978 protest action against the Muckamuck Restaurant. ReMatriate created a banner for the gallery's facade that was inspired by the SORWUC protest slogans. In 2019, ReMatriate guest curated the exhibition qaʔ yəxʷ - water honours us: Womxn and Waterways,April 10 – October 2, 2019, at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. The exhibition focuses on the connection between "womxn and water in the matriarchal societies of the Northwest Coast, with special attention to the roles of child-bearers, healers, and doulas."
Edit-a-thons
They host the ReMatriate Edit-a-thon to teach indigenous women how to create and edit Wikipedia pages.
Events
2018 - show - University of British Columbia - Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery. 2016 - -Western Front - Vancouver, British Columbia. 2015 - Adäka Cultural Festival - Whitehorse, Yukon.
